Booster heater



y 4, 1954 RE. FIELDER 2,677,359

BOOSTER HEATER Filed April 20, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

' Ti ie/ Zr 722/4 2/1 Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to heaters and more particularly to an improved booster heater adapted for use in heatin the coolant of liquid cooled internal combustion engines, particularly diesel engines.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to start internal combustion engine in cold climates after the engines have been turned off and allowed to cool to a low temperature because the components of the engine shrink and fit relatively closely, thereby increasing the frictional forces in the engine. In addition, the decrease in the viscosity of the engine lubricants at low temperatures necessitates the application of increased starting torque which frequently is greater than that which the starter is capable of generating. Furthermore, the starting of diesel engines is particularly difficult because of the inability to obtain sufficient pressure during the compression stroke of the engine with the result that the fuel fails to ignite.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved booster heater for internal combustion engines which facilitates starting such engines when the ambient atmosphere is at a relatively low temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved booster heater for internal combustion engines that is compact, economical to manufacture and assemble, light in weight, durable, efficient and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved booster heater of the indicated character that functions to efficiently heat the coolant of the engine thereby maintaining the lubricants and the components of the engine at a relatively warm temperature, and also functions as a mufier for the exhaust gases of the engine when the engine is in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved booster heater having a maximum of heat transfer area in the region of greatest heat fiow, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer and the thermal efiiciency of the unit and reducing the weight and cost of the material forming the unit to a minimum.

The above as well as other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with portions in section, of a booster heater constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3-3 thereof.

Referring to the drawing, an elongated tubular body, generally designated I0, is provided, which may be formed from sheet metal or other suitable material. The wall I I of the tubular body I!) is preferably of elliptical cross sectional contour, as shown in Fig. 3, and end caps 12 and M are brazed, welded or otherwise fixed to the end portions of the body In so as to seal the ends thereof. The cap I2 is provided with an aperture [6 adapted to accommodate one end portion of an exhaust pipe l8 while the opposite end portion of the exhaust pipe is shown as provided with an integral flange 20 which facilitates connecting the exhaust pipe to the engine manifold 22 by bolts 23. The end cap I4 is apertured, as at'24, to accommodate one end portion of a'tail pipe 25 while the distal end of the tail pipe 26 is open to the atmosphere.

For the purpose of partitioning the tubular body It! into a plurality of chambers, a pair of spaced, curved, transversely extending plate 28 and 3B are provided, the edge portions of which are fixed to the inner surface of the wall I I, as by welding or the like, and divide the tubular body Ii] into chambers 32, 34 and 36.

A heat exchange unit, generally designated 38, projects outwardly from th upper portion of the body [0, as viewed in Fig. 1, and is comprised of a water tank 39 having a side wall 40 shaped in the form of an ellipse, the minor diameter 'of which is substantially the same as the minor diameter of the body It, and a bottom wall 42 shaped to complement and fit the wall H of the tubular member H]. The bottom wall 42 is fixed to the wall H and the upper end portion of the tank is closed by a closure member 44, the marginal portion of which is provided with a depending flange 46 which snugly fits the side Wall 40 of the tank. A plate 48 extends across the upper portion of the tank 3.! and partitions the tank into watertight chambers 5|] and 52. The upper portion of the chamber 50 is provided with a fitting 53' adapted to receive one end of a hose 54 which connects the upper portion of the chamber 50' to the cooling system of the engine while the lower portion of the chamber 56 is provided with a fitting 55 adapted to receive one end of a hose 56 which connects the lower portion of the chamber to the cooling system of the engine.

A centrally disposed tube 58 is mounted in the tank 39, the upper end portion of the tube 58 projecting through an aperture in the plate 48 into the chamber 52 while the lower end portion of the tube. 58 projects through aligned apertures in the bottom wall 42 and the outer wall I I of the tubular member l0 into the upper portion of the chamber 34, which functions as a combustion chamberfor fuel, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail. A pair of tubes 60 and 62 are disposed in the tank 39 on opposite sides of the tube 58, the lower end portions of the tubes 60 and 62 projecting into the chambers 32 and 36, respectively, while the upper end portions of the tubes project through the plate 48 into the chamber 52.

An unbalanced plate valve64, mounted on a weighted pivot 'pin 66, i disposed in the upper end portion of the tube 58 and functions to prevent engine exhaust gases from passing into the combustion chamber 34 when the engine is 'operating. The valve 64 is balanced so as to open when the pressure in the combustion chamberfl exceeds the pressure in thechamber 52- and to close when the pressure in chamber 52 exceeds the pressure in the combustion chamber 34.

The outer end portion of a tube 68 is fitted in the inner. end portion of the exhaust'pipe I 8' while the .inner--.end portion of the 'tube-wfisprojects into :the' chamber :32 and terminates :at -a positionnear,'butspacedfrom, the plate -28. The

:plates28 and 36 areprovided withalignedapertures-lfl and '12 -'adaptedto accommodate-and Zsnugly'fit a longitudinallyextendingipipe 14 whichproj ects through the chamber 34, one 'end portion ofthe pipel i terminating-in the chamber 32 at'a:position.outwardly spaced from the inner end of 'the-pipe1fi8 while the opposite end ofthe pipe 14 terminates in thechamber'35 at aposition outwardly spacedfrom the inner-end=of a tube =76. The tube W6 extends into the chamber "-36 :and :the inner end thereof terminates at a .position near, but-=space'd1from, the plate 30' while the outer end portion of the tube J6 is connect- In order'that fuel-may be burnedin the com- "'bustion chamber-34,-a gun-type oil burner, generally designated l 8, is lprovided and includes a :housing'86 having aamozzle'portion 82 projecting r into the combustion cha1nber 34 through an aperture in the wall I I .ofthetubular-member it. A blower 84 is :mounted .in the housing 80 on a 'shaft'66 which may the driven by any suitable -means, such-as -an electric motor (not shown), the-blower functioning to force 'air'into the combustionchamber 34""through the nozzle portion 82'to support the combustionof the fuel. Agear pump 88'ofconventional design'is'also provided,

'theinlet'side .of the-gear pump being connected to asuitable fuel'reservoir (not'shown) by affuel line flfl-while the outlet side of the pump is con- The oil burner 18 is preferably automatically controlled by a thermostatic-switch element-(not shown) "disposed in the engine cylinder block,

the switch element completing. a circuit to .start the oil burnerwhen' the coolant 'in the engine block falls below'a specified temperature and shutting off'the oil'burner when the coolant in Itheengine block reaches the :desired temperature.

Assuming-that the "temperature in the engine block is below the desired temperature,

- the pump T83 is'started-and'the pump then forces 'fuel through the fuel line Q4 intothe nozzle-M fromwvhich it is 's'prayed into ithe combustion chamber34. At the samettima'ithe 'bloweraifi' is started sand-itheblower force'slair ithrough "the while the remaining" portions of the gases flow through'the tube 62 into'the chambers 32 and 36, respectively. As the hot gases pass through the tubes 58, 66 and 62, the heat is transferred through the walls of such tubes to the water in the tank 39. The heated water then rises and 'passesthroughthe hose 54 into the cooling system of the engine while the colder water in the engine cooling system flows through the hose 56 into the-lower portion of the tank 39. The thermal eifect of the heated Water thus causes the water to flow from the heat exchanger 238 into the :engine cooling system and circulate through such cooling system to .heat Lthe 'engine, after which it returns to the heat "exchanger through the hose 56.

'Atthe hot gases pass into thecham'bers-r32 and tfiyrespectively, they preheat the'platesifi'and -30 as well as the tube T4.

The fuel is ejected from the nozzle 92 into the combustion-chamber under pressure and impinges on *the relatively hot tube 74 and such a constructionfacilitates vaporization of the fuel'and increases the efficiency of the combustion process.

when itisrdesired to "operate the engine since the'components-of the engineand thelubricants have been maintained-at arelativelywarmtemperature during the :period thatthe engine was inoperative and in the event thetemperaturezof the coolant in the coolingzsystem-of (the engine falls below the desiredsrange, due to 'varying'operating conditions, the booster-heater will :autofmatically operate to raise the temperature of the coolant. The exhaustgasesfrom the=engine enter the tubular body I0=through the exhaust pipe ['8 and the tube 68' and pass into the'chamber 32. The'exhaust gases-impinge on the plate 28 which functions'as abafile-and follow a'tortuous 1 path through the chamber -'32'into the tube '14.

The gases then'flow through'the tube "M'into the chamber 36, after which the gases again'follow a tortuous path through the chamber 36"and'pass out of the chamber-36 through the tube T6 and the tail pipe 26 into the atmosphere. As previously mentioned, when the pressure in the chamber 52 exceeds the pressure in the combined chamber 34 the 'valve 64 closes, thereby preventing the exhaust gases from flowing into the combustion chamber 34. The present invention'thus provides a booster heater that functions to efllcientlyheat the coolantof theengine and also functions as a mufiler to dampthe noises of the exhaust gases of theengine as the gases -flow through the tubularmember l0 when the engine is in operation.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, .it will be understood that various changes and modifications y-bemaue without departing frorn "the What is claimed is:

1. A booster heater for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine comprising an elongated housing closed at each end and having a combustion chamber therein, one end portion of said housing having inlet means for receiving exhaust gases from said engine, the other end portion of said housing having outlet means open to the atmosphere, a tubular member extending through said combustion chamber and interconnecting the end portions of said housing, and heat exchange means communicating with said combustion chamber for heating the coolant of said engine.

2. A booster heater for an internal combustion engine having a liquid cooling system comprising, in combination, an elongated housing having axially disposed end chambers and a combustion chamber, one of said end chambers having inlet means for receiving exhaust gases from the engine, the other of said end chambers having outlet means open to the atmosphere, a tubular member extending through said combustion chamber and communicating with said end chambe s, a heat exchanger, said heat exchanger having a fluid reservoir therein and conduit means extending through said reservoir connecting said combustion chamber with one of said end chambers, means for connecting said reservoir to the cooling system of the engine, and means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber.

3. A booster heater for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular housing having a pair of axially spaced end chambers and a combustion chamber interposed between said end chambers, one of said end chambers having inlet means for receiving exhaust gases from the engine, the other of said end chambers having outlet means open to the atmosphere, a tubular member extending through said combustion chamber axially of said housing and interconnecting said end chambers, a heat exchanger fixed to said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, said heat exchanger including a fluid reservoir having conduit means extending therethrough connecting said combustion chamber to each of said end chambers, means for connecting said reservoir to the cooling system of the engine, and means for injecting a fuel and air mixture into said combustion chamber.

i. A booster heater for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular housing having a centrally disposed combustion chamber therein and a pair of end chambers on opposite sides of said combustion chamber, one of said end chambers havin inlet means for receiving exhaust gases from the engine, the other of said end chambers having outlet means open to the atmosphere, a tubular member extending through said combustion chamber axially of said housing and interconnecting said end chambers, a heat exchanger fixed to said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, said heat exchanger including a fluid reservoir having heat exchange conduit means extending therethrough connecting said combustion chamber with each of said end chambers, valve means for controlling the flow through said conduit means, means for connecting said reservoir to the cooling system of the engine, and burner means connected to said combustion chamber opposite said heat exchanger.

5. A booster heater for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular housing having a centrally disposed combustion chamber therein and a pair of end chambers on opposite sides of said combustion chamber, one of said end chambers having inlet means for receiving exhaust gases from the engine, the other of said end chambers having outlet means open to the atmosphere, a tubular member extending through said combustion chamber axially of said housing and interconnecting said end chambers, a heat exchanger fixed to said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, said heat exchanger having a fluid reservoir therein, heat exchange conduit means extending through said reservoir and connecting said combustion chamber with each of said end chambers, check valve means preventing flow into said combustion chamber, means for connecting said reservoir to the cooling system of the engine, and means for injecting a fuel and air mixture into said combustion chamber.

6. A booster heater for an internal combustion engine of the liquid cooled type including, in combination, an elongated tubular housing having a centrally disposed combustion chamber and end chambers on opposite sides of said combustion chamber, an inlet tube extending into one of said end chambers and terminating at a position near, but spaced from, one wall of said combustion chamber, an outlet tube extending into the other of said end chambers and terminating at a position near, but spaced from, the other wall of said combustion chamber, a conduit extending through said combustion chamher and interconnecting said end chambers, the

outer ends of said conduit terminating in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to the inner ends of said inlet and outlet tubes, and heat exchange means communicating with said combustion chamber for heating the coolant of said engine.

7. A booster heater for an internal combustion engine of the liquid cooled type including, in combination, an elongated tubular housing having a centrally disposed combustion chamber and end chambers on opposite sides of said combustion chamber, an inlet tube extending into one of said end chambers and terminating at a position near, but spaced from, one wall of said combustion chamber, an outlet tube extending into the other of said end chambers and terminating at a position near, but spaced from, the other wall of said combustion chamber, a conduit extending through said combustion chamber and interconnecting said end chambers, the outer ends of said conduit terminating in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to the inner ends of said inlet and outlet tubes, a heat exchanger fixed to said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, said heat exchanger including a fluid reservoir and conduit means extending through said reservoir connecting said combustion chamber with each of said end chambers, means for connecting said reservoir to the cooling system of the engine, and means includ-- ing a fuel pump and a blower for injecting a fuel and air mixture into said combustion chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,132,391 Ruttle Mar, 16, 1915 1,217,587 Fulton Feb. 27, 1917 1,411,379 Robison Apr. 4, 1922 1,885,225 Bordeaux Nov. 1, 1932 

